Release Date April 3rd, 2026
Format Digital/CD/Vinyl
Genre Atmospheric Black/Doom Metal
Country Belgium
Splendidula has been bleeding into microphones since 2008. Dropping three full-lengths, "Splendidula", "Post Mortem", and "Somnus", they carved their name into the underground. Tragedy struck hard in 2022 with the passing of bassist Peter Chromiak. Rebuilding the lineup and dropping the "Behind My Semblance" single in 2024, they stepped into a darker chapter. Now, they return with their fourth full-length, "Absentia", bringing a massive wave of grief and pure metal attitude.
Dropping via Argonauta Records, "Absentia" channels raw tragedy straight into the amplifiers. The music builds massive walls of atmospheric black metal crashing into crushing doom. Splendidula takes absolute despair and turns it into a heavy, agonizing ride. Guitars drag you through the dirt, pulling out every ounce of sorrow. The execution strikes straight to the bone, offering pure misery wrapped in distortion.
The vocal delivery cuts deep. Kristien and Guy tear through the tracks with a mix of fierce shrieks and haunting wails. Adding serious firepower to the lineup, Aaron Stainthorpe from My Dying Bride and High Parasite, along with Tim Yatras from Austere and Germ, step into the studio. Their contributions on "Echoes Of Quiet Remain" and "Absentia" bring serious devastation. The vocal performances sound entirely broken and furious at the same time, giving the album a massive edge.
Joachim holds down the rhythm section with absolute iron. The drums pound away relentlessly, anchoring the depressive riffs tearing out of Guy's guitar. Synths weave through the madness, adding a freezing layer to the whole experience. "Donkerte" and "Kilte" show what this trio can do when they push the pedals down. The doom segments crush everything in sight, leading into blistering black metal tremolo picking that shreds through the speakers.
Splendidula channeled actual heartbreak into a massive, heavy album. "Absentia" delivers pure sorrow and aggression, demanding attention from anyone who lives for black metal and doom metal. They poured their blood into these tracks and delivered an impressive release. It absolutely crushes skulls and tears the soul apart.
Score: 8.0
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